England's head coach, Stuart Lancaster, still pondering the best man to lead his team in next month's autumn internationals, has been advised to select Northampton's Tom Wood as his captain against Australia at Twickenham on 2 November.

Wood and Chris Robshaw of Harlequins are vying for the position but Northampton's director of rugby, Jim Mallinder, believes the former should retain the role he filled on tour in Argentina last summer. "He was brilliant again today and he's been like that all season," said Mallinder after Sunday's win over the Ospreys. "Stuart Lancaster just has to make a decision. He's everywhere at the contact area and at the set piece. He's definitely going to be in the England team but whether he [Lancaster] makes him captain, who knows?"

Robshaw helped Harlequins secure a brave bonus point at Clermont Aurvergne on Sunday and led England throughout last season, notably in the famous win over New Zealand a year ago.

Lancaster intends to talk to all of his squad players individually on Monday before announcing his captain on Wednesday but is reluctant to heap too much responsibility on one person's shoulders and wants as many on-field leaders as he can muster.

The 34-man squad will be spending this week preparing in Leeds and will also be assessed injury-wise following a bruising Heineken Cup fortnight. Dylan Hartley suffered a cut ear and twisted an ankle playing for Northampton but his club say he should be available for the Wallabies fixture. The Saints also insist Alex Corbisiero will be out for between two and four weeks but Bath's Dave Attwood is hoping to return to Premiership action against Gloucester on Friday night following a rib injury. Geoff Parling, the other lock contender, had a fine Lions tour and featured in the series-clinching third Test victory over Australia in Sydney.

The form second-row forward in the country, however, is currently Northampton's Courtney Lawes, who gave another man-of-the-match performance against the Ospreys including 20 mostly thunderous tackles. "He was in and out of games in the past but now he's a complete player," stressed Mallinder, describing the 24-year-old's display as "sensational."

Lawes has started just once, at blindside flanker, since Lancaster became England's head coach but is now injury-free and is using his considerable power more judiciously. "I was trying a bit too hard when, in hindsight, I should have just relaxed," said Lawes. "I'm playing a bit smarter, not trying to hurt people."

Luke Whitelock has emulated his older brothers Sam and George by becoming an All Black after the Canterbury loose forward was selected on Sunday for New Zealand's tour squad. The winger Frank Halai, prop Joe Moody and lock Dominic Bird have also been named in the side, while the uncapped scrum-half TJ Perenara and lock Luke Romano have returned after they were ruled out earlier this year with injuries.

Wellington loose forward Ardie Savea, the younger brother of winger Julian, has been included as an 'apprentice' player for the tour to get a taste of the All Blacks environment, coach Steve Hansen said.

"We are continuing the scheme we started with the younger hookers who came into camp earlier this year and, like them, the aim of the initiative is to give him exposure to all aspects of the All Blacks environment," Hansen said in a statement.

The All Blacks have already said they will split the squad for the first week to give younger players an opportunity to prove their worth in the build-up to their first non-World Cup Test against Japan on 2 November. Nine senior players, expected to include the captain, Richie McCaw, and injured fly-half, Daniel Carter, will fly directly to Paris to prepare for the match against France on 9 November, with the rest joining them after the match in Tokyo.